Gloucester Tall Ships Festival will take place in the city’s Historic Docks from Friday, May 24 to Monday, May 27.

The bi-annual event, organised by Marketing Gloucester for the city council in partnership with Gloucester Quays, has established itself as a leading festival in the south west. The 2011 event attracted over 80,000 visitors.

This year’s festival will see a flotilla of sailing vessels make a grand entrance into the UK’s most inland port via the Gloucester Sharpness Canal on Friday May 24 at around 12 noon. Ships confirmed include the magnificent brigantine, Phoenix, with its square rigged foremast; the Amazon, which took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant last year; the Ruth, a gaff-rigged sailing ship, The Matthew and the traditional rigged French ship, La Belle Angèle.

The festival is free nd appeals to visitors of all ages. Those wishing to take a closer look at the vessels will be able to buy a wristband for £5 on the Saturday and Sunday which will give access onto all the tall ships plus free admission to the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and the Gloucester Waterways Museum. Other attractions include living history characters, marauding pirates, live music, arts, crafts and food stalls.

The inaugural Gloucester Tall Ships Festival was in 2007 to lift spirits of local residents following devastating floods. It went on to win several awards including Silver in South West Tourism’s best event category. For more information, please visit www.gloucestertallships.co.uk.